Wire connecter



Sept. 20, 1938. M. D. BERGAN 2,130,825

WIRE CONNECTER Filed April 18, 1936 I M B 25 24 25 32 8 INVENTOR MARTIND.BERGAN ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 20, 1938 PATENT OFFICE WIRE CONNECTERMartin D. Bergan, Linden, N. J assignor to The Thomas & Betts (30.,Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 18,1936, Serial No. 75,047

6 Claims.

The invention relates to a wire connecter for securing a wire therein orfor securing two or more wires together in physical and electricalcontact. In one aspect of the invention a single sleeve may be used witha clamping member of a particular form and in another aspect two sleevesand a contractile clamping member having an exterior tapering surfaceprovide the parts of the wire connecter.

It is an object of the invention to construct a wire connecter that issuitable for securing one wire within the connecter for establishingelectrical contact therewith and preferably may be used for securing twoor more wires together in the connecter so that these wires are not onlysecured together, but also establish good electrical contact between thewires secured therein.

Another object of the invention is to construct a wire connecter inwhich all parts are assembled with the clamping member in open positionand the parts are retained in assembled relation ready for use. Theclamping action is then obtained merely by axially squeezing togetherthe parts of the connecter which accomplishes contraction 01' theclamping member or means so that one or more wires are firmly grippedtherein.

Another object of the invention is to construct a wire connecterutilizing a new and novel contractile clamping member.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of a wireconnecter utilizing .two axially movable sleeves with a contractileclamping member having tapering axially extending arms.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a first sleeve which is used forcontracting the contractile clamping member of the wire connecter.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the contractile clampingmember which grips a wire or wires within the connecter.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through a second sleeve forming athird member of the wire connecter.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the parts of the wire connecter in explodedrelation with each other and in the position in which they will beassembled to form the wire connecter.

Figure 4 is an end view of the first sleeve shown in section in Figure1.

Figure 5' is an end view of the contractile clamping member shown insection in Figure 2, taken from the large end thereof so that it showsthe outwardly projecting ends of the contractile clamping arms.

Figure 6 is an end view of the second sleeve shown in section in Figure3 and shows the in dentations or projections for receiving and guidingthe wires to be gripped therein.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through the wire connecter with theparts assembled in preliminary assembled relation and ready for theinsertion of a wire or wires into the connecter to be gripped thereby.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the parts of the wireconnecter assembled and with the sleeves forced axially upon each otherwhich has forced the contractile clamping member into the first or innersleeve whereby it is contracted and grips the three wires shown therein.

Wire connecters as heretofore constructed generally consisted ofseparate parts which are assembled by a workman or electrician as partof the operations necessary to grip a wire in the connecter. Frequentlyparts are dropped by a workman which delays the work of electricalwiring. Again, the manipulation of several connecter parts in additionto the wire or wires and a tool is diflicult and inconvenient. In theconstruction to be described herein the parts are held together inassembled relation and all that a workman has to do is to insert thewire or wires into the connecter and then squeeze the parts together,whereupon the wire or wires are firmly gripped in the connecter. If morethan one wire has been inserted into the connecter, these wires are alsogripped in the connecter and in tight contact with each other so thatgood electrical contact is established between the wires.

The wire connecter comprises a first sleeve l0 which preferably has aninwardly directed shoulder or flange H forming a stop so that acontractile clamping member will not be pushed too far into the sleeve.The shoulder or flange has an opening or bore I2 through which the endsof the wires may project and when they do project, the workman will knowthat each wire will be gripped fully by the clamping member.

A contractile clamping member I6 is shown in Figure 2 which has aring-like portion ii, the outer diameter of which is preferably suchthat it provides a light press lit with the bore l3 0! the first sleeveiii. Projecting from the ring-like portion I1 is a plurality ofcontractile arms I 8 which are formed by the slots IS. The outer surface20 of the arms II is tapered or practically conical, the taper of whichis such that the small diameter is at the ring-like portion l1 and thefree ends of the arms project outwardly.

The contractile clamping member i6 has a wire receiving bore 2i whichpreferably carries serrations in order to more firmly grip the wire orwires received therein and to more effectively establish electricalcontact with the wire or wires. Preferably one end of the wire receivingbore has ..--of "indentations.

a conical bore 23 so that the flexible arms, which substantially hingeat the point of juncture of the arms and the ring-like portion H, arerendered more flexible thereby and some degree of contraction throughoutthe length of the wire receiving bore may be obtained. Preferably acircumferential groove 25 is provided adjacent to the solid portion I!which also assists in increasing the flexibility of the arms and furtherprovides a shoulder which tends to dig or scrape into the inner wall ofthe first sleeve l0 and thereby assists in preventing the parts of theconnecter from being vibrated loose. The end of each contractile arm I8is indented to form an abutment or shoulder 24.

A second sleeve 30 is provided with a bore 3|, the diameter of which issubstantially the same as the outside diameter of the first sleeve i0 sothat the first sleeve will fit within the second. Preferably too, thediameters are such that a light press fit is provided between these twosleeves. The second sleeve 30 will fit over the contractile clampingmember l6 so that the latter is concealed therein and assisted in beingretained within the first sleeve I0 by being surrounded thereby. Thesecond sleeve 30 has an inwardly directed abutment 32 which engages the"abutment 24 upon the contractile clamping member l6.

The second sleeve 30 preferably has an inwardly directed fiange 33. Theflange has a bore therethrough which preferably comprises two or morecircular indentations 34 forming two or more wire spacing or positioningprojections which assist in locating and holding each wire opposite oneof the arms or Jaws l8 of the contractile clamping member l6. There arefour such indentations 34 illustrated in Figure 6, but it is to beunderstood that the boremay be circular or without indentations, or mayhave any number The number of indentations preferably corresponds withthe number of contractile arms or Jaws l8 provided upon the contractileclamping member I6. The fiange 33 also provides an abutment, in additionto the abutment 32, for engaging the end of the clamping member l6. Thisabutment may function when the clamping member has been contracted, al-

though the abutment 32 is so proportioned in the illustrated embodimentthat it serves as the sole abutment for engaging the clamping member IS.

The wire connecter, as preferably constructed, is assembled for sale anddistribution by pressing the contractile member l6 into the bore l3 ofthe first sleeve far enough to hold the same therein, but not far enoughto contract the arms or jaws l8 of the contractile clamping member IS.The second sleeve 30, shown in Figure 3, is then pressed onto the firstsleeve l0 far enough so that the abutment 32 engages or is slightlyspaced from the abutment 24. When so assembled, the parts of theconnecter are retained in assembled relation and ready for use.

An electrician, desiring to secure one or more wires within theconnecter, removes enough of the insulation on the insulated wires W sothat the wires will project through the bores 34 and M. This avoids anypossibility of the ends of the wires interfering with axial pressingtogether of the sleeves I0 and 30 by the end of the wire abuttingagainst the flange I l. The end or ends'of the wire or wires areinserted through the bore 3| with the wires positioned in theindentations 34 after which a pair of ordinary pliers, or a specialpliers provided for that purpose, presses the two sleeves menses axiallytogether. The abutment 32 of the outer or second sleeve 30 engages theabutment 24 on the contractile clamping member l6 and forces theclamping member into the bore l3 of the first sleeve ID. The walls ofthe bore l3 engage the conical or tapered outer surfaces of thecontractile jaws l8 and contract the same upon the wires inserted in theconnecter. The extent to which the contractile clamping member I6 isforced into the bore l3 of the first sleeve Ill depends upon the numberand diameter of the wires projected thereinto. After the wires have beenfirmly gripped in the wire connecter, the ends thereof preferably aretwisted and cut off close to the end of the connecter. This makes aclean finished connection as shown in Figure 8.

It will be observed that the first sleeve contracts the jaws of thecontractile clamping member and in that contraction firm frictionalcontact is established between the bore l3 of the first sleeve Ill andthe tapered surface 20 of the contractile clamping member IS. The edgeformed by the circumferential groove 25 digs into the bore l3 of theinner sleeve l0 and aids in holding the parts together against vibratingloose. The outer or second sleeve30 by its frictional engagement withthe outer surface of the first sleeve l0 also assists in holding theparts together against being vibrated loose. The outer or second sleeve30 also reenforces the inner or first sleeve l0 so that it will notexpand under the pressure exerted by the contractile clamping member. Itwill be observed that if any expansion of the first sleeve l0 occurs, itwould be when the pressure is greatest or only after the contractileclamping member has been substantially completely pressed thereinto,which expansion would tend to expand the outer sleeve adjacent theabutment 32 and thereby further assist in looking the parts in assembledrelation. The end of the contractile arms l8 may also abut the inwardlydirected flange 33 and in this way assist in forcing the contractileclamping member into the bore l3 of the first sleeve Hi.

It should also be noted that a wire connecter which will remain inpreliminary assembled relation is obtained if a press fit is providedonly between the sleeves IO and 30, and the press fit may be dispensedwith, if desired, between the first sleeve l0 and the clamping member [6because these latter two parts are held in assembled relation by thepress fit between the inner sleeve Ill and the outer sleeve 30. Thepress fit between the first sleeve l0 and the clamping member l8 does,however, aid initial assembly of the wire connecter.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in theconfiguration, composition and disposition of the component elementsgoing to make up the invention as a whole, as well as in the selectivecombination or application of the respective elements, and no limitationis intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description orillustrations in the accompanying drawing.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire connecter comprising a contractile clamping member having asmooth exterior surface and a bore through the contractile portion ofthe member to receive one or more wires therein, the clamping memberhaving a conical exterior surface, a first sleeve having a smooth andapproximately cylindrical bore which is substantially the diameter ofthe small end of the clamping member so that the latter will fit thereinand the clamping member will be contracted upon being forced therein,and a second sleeve having together the clamping member is pressed intothe first sleeve and contracted into a substantially cylindrical formwhich will not vibrate loose, the clamping member being contracted togrip a wire or wires therein.

2. A wire connecter comprising a contractile clamping member having asmooth exterior sur face and a bore through the member to receive one ormore wires therein and having contractile arms extending from aring-like portion, the arms having a conical exterior surface extendingoutwardly from the ring-like portion, a first sleeve having a smoothouter surface and a substantially cylindrical bore providing a press fitwith the small end of the conical clamping member so that the latterWill be retained in preliminary assembled relation therein and the armsof the clamping member will be contracted upon being forced farthertherein, and a second sleeve having a smooth bore providing a press fitwith the outside surface of the first sleeve including means engagingthe end of the contractile clamping member so that upon forcing the twosleeves axially together the clamping member is pressed into the firstsleeve and the clamping arms are contracted into a cylindrical form sothat the clamping member will not vibrate loose, the clamping arms beingcontracted to grip a wire or wires therebetween.

3. A wire connecter comprising a contractile clamping member having abore therethrough to receive one or more wires therein, the exteriorsurface of the clamping member being conical; a first sleeve having abore which is cylindrical substantially the diameter of the small end ofthe contractile clamping member so that the latter will fit therein andthe clamping member will be contracted thereby; and a second sleevehaving a bore which has a diameter substantially the same as the outsidediameter of the first sleeve including means engaging the end of thecontractile clamping member so that upon forcing the two sleeves axiallytogether the clamping member is pressed into the first sleeve andcontracted thereby into a cylindrical form so that it will not vibrateloose, the clamping member being contracted to grip a wire or wires, anda fiange carried by the second sleeve having a bore therethrough withinwardly directed projections to position the wires passingtherethrough.

4. A wire connecter comprising a contractile clamping member having abore therethrough to receive one or more wires therein and havingcontractile arms extending from a ring-like portion, the arms having aconical exterior surface extending outwardly from the ring-like portion,a first sleeve having a bore which is cylindrical and substantially-thesame diameter as the small and of the conical clamping member so thatthe latter will fit therein and the arms of the clamping member will becontracted upon being forced therein, a second sleeve having a borewhich has a diameter substantially the same as the outside diameter ofthe first sleeve including means engaging the end of the contractileclamping member so that upon forcing the two sleeves axially togetherthe clamping member is pressed into the first sleeve and the clampingarms are contracted into a cylindrical form so that the contractilemember will not vibrate loose, the clamping arms being contracted togrip a wire or wires therebetween, and a flange carried by the secondsleeve having a bore therethrough with inwardly directed projections toposition a plurality of wires passing therethrough with respect to thearms of the clamping member.

5. A wire connecter comprising a contractile clamping member having abore therethrough to receive one or more wires therein and havingcontractile arms extending from a ring-like portion, the arms having aconical exterior surface extending outwardly from the ring-like portion,a first sleeve having a bore which is cylindrical and providing a pressfit with the ring-like por-- tion of the conical clamping member so thatthe latter will be retained in preliminary assembled relation thereinand the arms of the clamping member will be contracted upon being forcedfarther therein, an inwardly directed fiange on the end of the firstsleeve, a second sleeve having a bore providing a press fit with theoutside diameter of the first sleeve including means engaging the end ofthe contractile clamping member so that upon forcing the two sleevesaxially together the clamping member is pressed into the first sleeveand the clamping arms are contracted into a cylindrical form so that theclamping member will not vibrate loose, the clamping arms beingcontracted to grip a wire or wires therebetween,

and a flange carried by the second sleeve having a bore therethroughwith inwardly directed projections to position the wires passingtherethrough with respect to the arms of the clamping member.

6. A wire connecter comprising a contractile clamping member including aring-like portion, contractile arms extending axially from the ringlikeportion, the arms being bent outwardly at their free ends to form aconical exterior surface extending outwardly from the ring-like portion,and a wire receiving bore extending between the arms and through thering-like portion to receive one or more wires; a first sleeve having asmooth bore which is cylindrical and has a diameter providing a pressfit with the ring-like portion of the contractile clamping member sothat the latter will be retained in preliminary assembled relationtherein and the arms of the clamping member will 'be contracted uponbeing forced farther therein, and a stop at the end of the first sleeveto prevent the clamping member from being forced too far therein; and asecond sleeve having a bore providing a press fit with the outside"diameter of the first sleeve, the second sleeve including means engagingthe end of the contractile clamping member so that upon forcing the twosleeves axially together the clamping member is pressed into the firstsleeve and the clamping arms are contracted into cylindrical form sothat the clamping member will not vibrate loose, the clamping arms beingcontracted to grip a wire or wires therebetween, and a fiange carried bythe second sleeve having'a bore therethrough with inwardly directedprojections to position the wires passing therethrough with respect tothe arms of the clamping member.

MARTIN D. BERGAN.

